Darkness Falls (Dark Angels 7)

For several minutes neither of us moved. He leaned his forehead against mine, his breathing harsh against my lips as the shower continued to rain hot water down on us, though its touch was cool compared to the heat still burning between us.

“That,” he said, after several minutes, “was very invigorating.”

“It certainly was.” I felt a whole lot better—and a whole lot stronger—than I had only minutes ago, and that wasn’t merely a result of great sex. I wasn’t only his Caomh, but his “recharge” partner. Reapers didn’t keep themselves alive by eating or sleeping or any of the other things humanity did. Instead, they mingled energies—which was the reaper version of sex—with those who possessed a harmonious frequency. Up until very recently that recharge had gone one way—his, although he’d always been able to heal me—but this time, it had been different. I was now a reaper in waiting and, in reality—thanks to his sharing part of what he was to save my life—more energy than flesh these days.

“Your aunt grows restless,” he murmured. “We should move.”

“My aunt knew exactly what was going to happen in this shower and would be shocked if we rushed.” I dropped a quick kiss on his lips, then unwrapped my legs from his waist and stood. “But given her mood, she’s just as likely to march in here and tell us to get a move on, so I think we’d better dress.”

We did so—although it didn’t take Azriel long. All he had to do was imagine his jeans back on. My borrowed clothes smelled faintly of vanilla and musk, which meant the jeans and the beautiful lilac sweater were once again Darci’s. She was Riley and Liander’s middle daughter, and the only non-twin in their brood of five

. I’d grown up with them all, and no more wanted to endanger them than I did their parents. And I sure as hell wasn’t above using them as leverage in the upcoming battle with my aunt.

Riley might be fierce in her desire to protect me, but when it came down to it, I was neither pack nor blood. She’d fought long and hard to get her brood; given the choice between me and them, she would naturally always choose them.

And that gave me an angle of attack.

I dumped my towel down the laundry chute, my clothes in the bin, then—after a deep, steadying breath that did nothing to ease my nerves or shore up my courage—headed out.

“So,” Riley said, once we’d demolished the toasted egg and bacon sandwiches Quinn had made for the two of us. “Explain.”

I hesitated. “Before I do, there’s one thing you should be aware of. Hunter has Cazadors following me about astrally. She’ll now know—”

“Nothing,” Quinn interrupted. “At least nothing when it comes to what is said in this house. I’m well aware of Hunter’s predilection to use the Cazadors as her own private army and have taken steps to ensure they have no access to any of my houses or workplaces—physically or astrally.”

Meaning, no doubt, magic had been employed. There was little else that could stop astral travelers. It surprised me, but I’m not sure why. After all, he’d been around almost as long as Hunter, and while I’d never seen or heard anything that suggested he could perform spells, there was also no evidence saying he couldn’t—especially given that he not only was part Aedh, but had undergone priest training. But even if he couldn’t perform magic himself, I was betting he knew some very powerful individuals who could.

Either way, it was good to know that Hunter would have no idea what was said here. It gave us time, if nothing else.

So I filled them in on the loss of the second key, the opening of the second gate, the death of my father, and the intervention of the remnants, as well as their subsequent destruction of the Raziq.

“I’m surprised the remnants intervened,” Quinn commented, once I’d finished. “It is very rare.”

“Not that rare,” Riley commented. “Your father contacted you once, remember.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Your father is a remnant?”

Quinn nodded. “He is one of six who remained to protect the temples from outside forces.”

“Outside,” I said. “Not inside. Not the Raziq.”

“No.” Quinn’s brief smile held a grim edge. “Their reluctance to act against the Raziq is the reason they are remnants in the first place. Hence my surprise at their actions now.”

“They were left with little choice,” Azriel commented. “As it was, Malin very nearly destroyed both the temples and the gates.”

“So both Malin and the Raziq really are dead?” Riley asked. “No chance of resurrection?”

“No chance,” Azriel replied. “They are little more than scattered particles in distant skies.”

“The priests may be slow in acting,” Quinn noted, voice dry, “but they are very thorough when they do.”

“Well, good,” Riley said. There was something in her tone that had me picturing her mentally rolling up her sleeves. I tensed, not sure I was entirely ready for the fight ahead. She added, “Now, about Hunter—”

“No.” I said it quietly but firmly.

Riley raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, no?”

“Just that. I don’t want you involved. Not in any damn way. Hunter is my problem, not yours.”